Les Newman – motorcyclist

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the last guided cemetery walk this season. We next meet on Sunday November 12 for the Remembrance Sunday service during which a plaque dedicated to Mark Sutton will be unveiled. Meet at the chapel for 2 pm.

Here is one of the stories I told yesterday (with thanks to Kevin Leakey for his information and research).

Leslie Charles Newman was born on October 17, 1907, the son of Thomas Charles Newman (Alderman and Mayor of Swindon 1923-24) and his wife Frederica.

In 1921/2 Leslie, then aged 14, began an apprenticeship at his father’s printing works, the Borough Press. He took over the business following the death of his father in 1941, but it is probably fair to say his first love was motorcycle racing.

Kevin Leakey writes:

Having purchased his first motorcycle as a 17 year old in 1924, Leslie Newman quickly took to participating in many different forms of motorcycle racing and competition, including trials, grass track racing and hill climbs.

Leslie also raced at the first dirt track (speedway) meeting at the Gorse Hill Autodrome in 1928.

As well as competing in and organising many local motorcycle competitions through his connections with the Swindon based North Wilts Motorcycle & light car Club, Les also found time to compete in the Isle of Man Grand Prix, the amateur races held on the T.T. circuit.

Although he had considered retiring from motorcycle competition in 1933, having never competed in road racing events, the call of the famed Manx race was too much for Leslie, so he scraped together the £35 needed to purchase a four year old T.T. Sunbeam motorcycle and had it race prepared by the factory for an additional £10.

In order to prepare for the gruelling race he devised a 21 mile training circuit similar in shape to the TT track. Taking in many of the villages on the Downs, Leslie would set out at dawn from Swindon, and be back for breakfast followed by a 2 mile walk to start work at 8am.

Leslie competed in four Grand Prix races between 1934 and 1937. His most successful performance was in the 1934 Senior race. Despite crashing at one point, he still managed to finish a highly creditable 12th place out of 57 starters, averaging almost 70 mph over 6 laps of the 37 ¾ mile circuit. Quite a feat considering some of his fellow competitors were either professional racers, or would eventually turn professional.

It’s also interesting to note that, unlike today, where the whole circuit is on tarmac roads, back in the 1930’s it was often narrow, had loose surfaces in parts and had many dangerous blind corners.

In recent years, his Isle of Man efforts have been remembered by the Marston Sunbeam Club by holding an annual ‘Les Newman memorial run’. They follow the route across the Downs that Leslie used for his practice runs.

Post war Leslie was involved in the early speedway meetings at the Abbey Stadium as Starting Line Marshal, and his business, the Borough Press (Eastcott Hill) printed the meeting programmes. He also continued to organise vintage bike runs and rallies for many years.

Leslie died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on October 13, 1989, aged 81. His ashes were later placed in this large family grave with his parents, sister, his wife Doris and their son John Charles Newman who died in 2005.

Les pictured in his heyday and reunited with his motorcycle in later life.

Some photos taken at our guided cemetery walk yesterday.